Electric oven



` Dec. 6, 1949 w. L. MAxsoN 2,490,()76

ELECTRIC OVEN 4,/ 47 l/ y 412/.g L v hi :31:02h. j

XNVENTQR WILL/11M MXfO/V BY 27mm/77% www if ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1949 W. L. MAXSON ELECTRIC OVEN Filed Sept. 18, 1945 HMM 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR www2 mfg@ ATTORNE Patented Dec. 6, 1949 ELECTRIC OVEN William L. Maxson, West Orange, N. J., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Foremost Dairies, Inc., a corporation of New York Application September 18, 1945, Serial No. 616,980

9 Claims.

This invention relates to electric ovens.

The present application is a continuation in part of my copending, now abandoned, application Serial No. 573,823, led January 22, 1945.

The electric oven of the present invention in its preferred form of embodiment is adapted to receive and contain a plurality of shallow frozen food containers or plates in vertically spaced relation, one above the other, so that when heated air is circulated throughout the oven, the air will pass over both the top and bottom sides of each food container. The oven is substantially air tight and the air therein is forcibly circulated by an electric fan mounted on the rear wall of the oven. A U-shaped baie extending from top to bottom is disposed in the oven for causing the air which is withdrawn through an opening in the rear of the baffle, and from the space where the food containers are supported, to be circulated around the sides of the oven, Where heat is taken from electric heating elements mounted on the side walls of the oven, and delivered again to the front of the baffle. Brackets are provided on the baiile for supporting the thin, at food containers horizontally, one above another, for impartial parallel exposure to the air stream.

By virtue of the vegetables on the food container being subjected to hot, forcibly circulated air to effect the thawing and the cooking action upon the same, there is tendency for vegetables or like foods to be dried. In order to prevent this drying and to permit more heat to be used, if desired, bales of metal or other suitable material are fitted into the oven in such position as to cover a vportion of each plate and particularly that portion thereof which contains the vegetables. The structure for accomplishing this result is part of the subject matter of this application.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide in an oven of this type, baffle means adapted to serve as a cover for the vegetable or other desired portions of the food container to prevent drying out.

It is another object of the invention tc provide an oven with a cover means of this type, the oven being so constructed that the cover can be supported within the oven independently of the food container itself and in such a manner that it covers the vegetable or other desired portion of the food container, but leaves the remaining portion of the meal, such as the meat portion thereof directly exposed to the heating air.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a cover or baffle means for the food container which is not only supported in the oven independently of the food container but may be removed therefrom so that it can be cleaned and scoured.

According to the invention a baffle plate is provided for each of the food containers Within the oven. The food containers are supported on brackets on a U-shaped member extending vertically in the oven. Above each bracket and on the U-shaped member is another bracket having a surface on which the balile plate can be slid into position over the vegetable portions of the food container. This sliding surface serves to support the baffle plate independently of the container, but s0 that the bottom face of the balfle plate lies adjacent to the rim of the food container. Finger elements serve to removably hold the baiiie plate on the supporting surface. The baffle plate may be left in position in the oven while the food container is withdrawn therefrom or in cases where the bale plate is not to be used it can be removed from the oven. When the baffle plate is in position over the food container the heated air upon being circulated through the oven will thus be prevented from coming in contact in great quantity with the vegetable portions in the food container. On the other hand, the meat portions on the food container are left fully exposed and in direct heating contact with the circulated heating air.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the oven with portions cut away and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the baffle plate;

Fig. 3 is a detailed View in section of the main bale within the oven and of the means thereon for supporting the food container and the baille plate, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view with parts broken away and partly in section.

Referring now to the figures, there is shown an oven casing II, including an outer plate I2, an inner lining I3 and insulating material I4 disposed therebetween. The front portion of the oven casing II, has an opening I5, in which is disposed an oven door or a closure I6. This door I6, is hinged at I'I, to the bottom of the casing II and when in the closed position is releasably retained by a latch I8 cooperating with a locking shoulder I9 axed to the casing I I.

Within the casing II and extending from the bottom thereof to the top is a U-shaped baiile plate 2l. This baille plate 2| is disposed so as to be spaced from the sides and rear Walls of the casing and so that its open side faces the oven opening l5 at the front of the lining I3. In a passageway 22 formed between the baille and the casing E2, air is circulated by a fan 23 driven by a motor 24 carried on the rear wall of the casing. The motor'24is located externallylof the casing and is connected with the fan 23 by a shaft extending in an opening 26 in the casing. This fan 23 receives air from within the baille by way-4 of an opening 21 in the rear of the baffle .and forces the same radially outwardly into theipas; sageway 22. As the air isz-passed:throughrthe' passageway 22 it is heatedbyheating elements 28 mounted on the outside surfaces of the baille. The baille 2i may be removablyffsecured. in..place` Within the oven and withdrawn therefrom when it is desired to replace the heating elements-28.1.

This main baille 2l has shelving projections or;brackets.,3| aextendin'gjnwardly from` its sides thereof.; on .,Whichewtliei food; containers 32 are rested as they are disposed in the oven. The baille 2l `andithese` projectionsl ,constitute means for supporting-the food@ containers; There is one projectionsatf-eachside :anda-:plurality of them, onezabove the other;.to respectively support the several: containers-32. placed in the oven. The food.-containersv32 mayqbe. of metal or of paper formation.:` and includefa-e rim portion 33 and radially` disposediipartitions ',-34 forming a plate of-,theblue plate; 1type.f Betweenthe partitions 34 thereareprovided separa-terecesses 35, 36'and 3l. The. recess 35-contains;agfmeat portion 33, while thersmaller recesses;:36=and131 contain vegetablek portions,A such; as-ifried potatoes: and peas.

In' .preparing .'.the'ffood` container, the meat and Vegetables-1l arerstseparately precooked for a predetermined periodv of ytimethatjis so calculated, thatfwhen all :three aresimultaneously subjected tothe'nallheating andl cooking` step,zall foods will arrivefsimultaneouslyatgthe:fnallyicooked stage. After the preecookingVV operationfthe meat and vegetable'sqorfotherfoodssaare disposed von the container in blue plate .'fashion and covered with aepaper. orzothercover.: The'container, foodsand, cover areithensubjected sto: a .quick-freezing operation .;andcstoredinf aA refrigerator until theyV are ready to be used. f

At'the time :that .they are torbeY inserted in the oven; thestemporary. Vcover'is :removed 'from thecontainer and zthe-:containerris ,rested on the projections: 3 lfin;.theovenA .withfthe meat portion disposed to .the rear:

Immediatelynbove thezprojections v3l are baille; supporting shelves 4l having horizontally extend# ing surfacesrf42'.VY A baille: plate-43 has bottom bearing; .surfaces344 and-:45,A which. are slid over the xsurfaces:v 42 fof the baille c plate supporting bracket .-4'I fito` locate; the baffle;- plate above the vegetables. The plate 43 will slide rearwardlyr until-:edges 4610i'thecbearinggsurfaces abut the base of a.reta'ining;nger^41.f. Thev ngerlll'l hasv aispringinger rprojection'V 48 :adapted to engage the top surface of therbaflle' plate to holdxthe container. The baille 43 is thus carried by the main baffle 2| and independent of the container 32. The container 32 can be removed without the baille being removed as illustrated at 54, Fig. 4, or at times when it is desired that the meat be made less well done. the baille plate 43 can be removed from the oven and the vegetables left I'exposed to the heating air;

However, with the ballleplate 43 in position the air current which passes over the container 323 is diverted from coming into direct contact with the vegetable or other selected portion of thecontainer covered by the baille plate. The vegetables. are. thusisolated from the moving heatingf:` air' bythe-baille and by relatively still heating-'air which--will be found beneath the baille.

In order to maintain a high degree of humidity withintheoven and prevent the food from drying out altogether, there maybe provided a humidifying Wick 55 leading; froma*bott1e 56 containing water; The vcasing -l I inlay be supported on astable orfsh'elf byisupporting legs 51.

It shouldnow vbe apparentthat therel has -been: provided baille Yplate meansadapted to be located in-'an oven over the vegetable portions ofthe' food containerand supported onithe` main-baille 2l yandindependently ofthe vfood container.

Ihave: describedwhat Ifbelieve. to vbe thebest: embodiments of myinvention.. I do not wish,r however, to be coniined to.'v the embodiments shown-, but whatvI desire 'to` cover by Letters PatentY is set forth in the `appended claims.

I claim:

1. In'an oven, a'casin'gdeningthewalls of theoven,v means for circulating hot air in therY oven, said casing havingf an opening,l throughv which food may -bepassed to theinterior thereof, closure means -forthe opening,Y means adapted to:` support in a predetermined position'ln the oven a'. shallow container: having a selection ofrioods'fv thereony so that heating air. may be circulated over;` the: top and bottom ofthecontainen a rbaille supe' ported a -short-distance-above vthe `container sup.

f, port l and extending over.- afsubstantialportion of the container area while-leavinganothersubstane tial-portion of -such area uncoveredto divert .the circulating-= air from :food-inathe 'fiirst .mentionedfportion of-:said area to delaythefcooking-thereo, and'means separatefromthe container for retain- Y ing'- the baille in Vplace .thereover.

2. An oven as -denedin claimfl `in which thek supporting-i means forv the lcontainer vincludes Var-i vertically-extending, part and said retaining-1. means for the baille ismounted on theverticallyextending:V part Y ofV the container-supporting.: means.

3. In. an oven', a box-likes structure dening:v the-.walls ofthe-oven; means yfor 'circulating hot airfinfthe ovenysaid structure having 1an openinggf through which food maybe-passed to the-interior thereof., closure means.` for `theopening, means. adapted to support in -apredetermined containervv location a sha1-lowcontainer:v adapted to hav-ena selection otvfoods thereonfso thatheating airmayebe circulated over the" toprandk -bottom thereohl. supporting.'meansffiorthe-'containen a separable: baille adapted :tof be ltted Iover-a' portion only ofthe container iareafto `divertwtherheatingfair from` -v at least one-of thefoods-in orderto delayits cooking time, an'd -meansindependent of the container for releasablyI 'supporting-.the baille: and retaining;- the baillein placeover thefood .contain-eri 4.*.An oven `as denedinf claim 3 in w-hiclrsaid releasableretaining; means includes ysupporting plate against: lthe' surfaces l 4210i; the bracket f 4 I. Thef bafllefplate 43 fhasuinwardlyV extending projections 5| and: 52adapted 'tos cover the. slightly angledspartitionsg34.extending between the` meatl andyegetableiportions.

The vplate' 43.5when in :place the oven serves f to cover the-vegetables;-` Thefspacingbetween: the container bracketsandl4 thezbaile plate sur-v face 42is such that there` .Willr'be little spacing between fthe baille plate-,and the flange .33 of Athe surface means over which said baille may be slid into place over the container, and resilient linger means for releasably forcing the baille against the supporting surface.

5. In an oven, a casing having an opening through which food containers may be passed to the interior thereof, closure means for the opening, means for circulating heated air within said casing, a baille in the casing extending from the bottom to the top thereof and in spaced relation thereto so as to cause the circulating air to travel horizontally through and alongside of a food heating chamber partially bounded by the baille, means on the baffle adapted to support in a predetermined location shallow food containers in parallel relation for impartial exposure to the air stream so that the air stream may pass over the tops and bottoms of the containers, additional bales for the individual containers, each adapted to cover a part but not all of the associated container to divert air from food contained in the covered areas and to delay the cooking time of such covered food, and means provided on the first baille independently of the containers for retaining the additional baiiies in place over the containers.

6. An oven as dened in claim 5 in which the baille retaining means includes in each instance a supporting surface on which the additional baille may be rested and a resilient finger for forcing the additional baille against the supporting surface.

7. In an oven, in combination, a housing, means for circulating a hot air current through the housing, means for supporting in substantially predetermined horizontal positions compartmentized, shallow dishes or trays in the air current, shields supported short distances above the respective dish supports, and of less areas than the available dish areas so that they may be used to cover substantial, predetermined portions of the available dish areas While leaving other substantial, predetermined portions of the dish areas clear, and supports for the shields independent of the dishes which the shields are designed to cover in part.

8. In an electric oven, a substantially airtight box-like structure dening the walls of the oven and having an opening through which food is passed to the interior thereof, closure means for the opening operable to an open position thereby permitting the oven to be supplied with food elements to be heated, a baille of U-shape or channel form having open side and ends, said baille plate connected to the interior of the box-like structure to extend vertically therein and so that its open side faces the oven opening and its ends are enclosed by the top and bottom walls of the structure, said baille plate otherwise being spaced from the structure side and rear walls to provide a path for circulating air, an electric motor mounted on the rear wall of the structure and having a shaft extending through the wall and into the interior of the structure, a centrifugal fan on the shaft end and in rear of the baille, said baille having an opening concentric with the motor shaft by which air is extracted from within the baille for recirculation radially of the ian, the air then passing about the sides of the baille, through the open side thereof and into the food space Within the baille and in a direction over the food elements parallel to the top and bottom surfaces thereof, and electric heating elements mounted on the side walls of the structure and in position to be traversed by the circulating air.

9. In an oven, in combination, a substantially airtight casing, a baille, U-shaped in horizontal cross-section, cooperative with the casing to define a recirculatory airflow path, which path includes a food heating chamber within the baille through which air is caused to travel substantially horizontally, the casing having an opening at the front for the admission and removal of food, a closure for said opening, said baille having an open side disposed toward said opening in the casing, and having a passage in the side opposite the one at which it is open to permit the circulation of air through the heating chamber in a substantially horizontal direction and alongside the heating chamber, a source of heat in said path, and a blower mounted on the rear wall of the casing and disposed behind the rear wall of the baille for recirculating the air through said path, said baille including upon its side walls means for supporting thin, flat food containers horizontally, one above another, for impartial parallel exposure to the air stream.

WILLIAM L. MAXSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 655,462 Smith Aug. 7, 1900 867,086 Sullivan Sept. 24, 1907 968,165 Kellogg Aug. 23, 1910 1,003,428 Brust Sept. 19, 1911 1,218,341 Truitt Mar. 6, 1917 1,893,694 Bohnker Jan. 10, 1933 2,257,159 Crites Sept. 30, 1941 2,412,103 Spooner Dec. 3, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 332,874 Great Britain July 31, 1930 

